NORTH Queensland beef producers now have added incentive to control wild dogs and dingoes following a report on a canine parasite infecting cattle across the State.

New testing of blood samples taken from beef cattle in Queensland reveal northern herds are above average in testing positive for neospora caninum, a parasite linked to abortions and early calf deaths.

More than 16 percent of samples taken in the north were positive, compared to a State average of 14.8pc.

The neospora parasite is spread to cattle via the grazing of pastures contaminated with faeces from infected dogs and dingoes.

DPI veterinarian David Pitt said the data suggests it can also be spread from dam to calf.

"There are no vaccines or antibiotics, so the best control method is to reduce wild dog numbers in beef production regions," Mr Pitt said.

He said if infected dog faeces were present in feed or water sources, it could lead to a significant number of abortions in one herd.

The results of the Queensland Government study were presented last week at a veterinary conference in Chile.

Mr Pitt said almost 6000 blood samples were tested, with cattle from the south-east region returning the highest proportion of neospora infections at 21pc. Samples taken from the western region were 11.7pc positive.

"It appears the parasite is more prevalent in wetter regions, which is most likely why northern beef herds were slightly above average."

Mr Pitt said explanations for regional variations also include wild dog prevalence and stocking rates.

He said the study had defined the prevalence and distribution of neospora in Queensland beef cattle, which will greatly assist future research into its biology and ultimately control.

Analysts suggest neospora costs the Queensland beef industry somewhere between $15 and $30 million annually.

Studies conducted on dairy cows in the Atherton Tableland last year confirmed the parasite was also present in North Queensland dairy herds. Researcher Alison Gunn said the Tableland dairy industry is likely to have 10 to 40pc of its cows infected with neospora.

The parasite was first discovered in 1984 in a dog that had a brain disease.

Later, in 1988, it was found to cause abortions in cattle in feedlot dairies in California. Since then it has been found worldwide, wherever dairy cows have been tested, as well as in beef cattle.

Studies have shown, however, that the parasite has been around for a long time, and simply gone unrecognised.